Vodafone to offer femotcells to customers from July 1st

darkone338 · 23-06-2009, 13:55

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06...ccess_gateway/

This is great news for people in fringe reception areas who have broadband tho 160 quid is a bit steep!

Edit: More info as its released here

BoBaDoB · 23-06-2009, 14:17

i can see them giving them for free for retention deals tbh to keep customers who complain about bag signal at home

prking · 23-06-2009, 18:08

If you were to buy one independently it would cost you a lot more than £160.

Appleseed · 25-06-2009, 13:49

Position it correctly and the neighbours get a free signal boost too - free of charge.

flagpole · 25-06-2009, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appleseed

Position it correctly and the neighbours get a free signal boost too - free of charge.

that's not completely true. you have to designate which numbers can use it.

if i were vod that is not how i would do it TBH

mpk81 · 25-06-2009, 14:24

I wonder what their policy will be about using it outside the UK. It bring up some interesting possibilities.

You could use it in your Spanish holiday home.

If you could configure it to accept any Vodafone UK mobile then ex-pat bars around Europe may start getting them.

clonmult · 25-06-2009, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpk81

I wonder what their policy will be about using it outside the UK. It bring up some interesting possibilities.

You could use it in your Spanish holiday home.

If you could configure it to accept any Vodafone UK mobile then ex-pat bars around Europe may start getting them.

Thats an interesting thought. In theory your IP address shows where you're "calling" from, but that isn't always accurate - some websites count my office as being in the US (I work at a large british comms company).

Although ex-pat bars couldn't use the voda femtocells as they're locked down to specific phone numbers.

Appleseed · 25-06-2009, 15:17

You can bet your last quid that Vodafone have already found a foolproof way of stopping things like using it abroad from happening! Thing is, what's the problem with it? They only charge more because they have a to use other networks to connect you abroad, but with this they wouldn't be. It could turn into quite a moneyspinner for them. The only downside is that you can only use the phone at home and we already have a system for that. Landlines!

flagpole · 25-06-2009, 15:28

they wouldn't be licensed to work in other countries though would they. you be broadcasting a 3G signal in a country without a licence and possibly interfering with local carriers.

Andy258 · 02-10-2009, 14:25

They really are great value for money. I got mine on a Vodafone staff deal at £100 and now have perfect 3G signals on my 2 Vodafone mobiles. Before this I was struggling to get any kind of signal.

tellytart1 · 02-10-2009, 14:43

I wonder how long it'll be before O2 launch this too - my 3G coverage at home is almost non-existent (SE London), and the 2G signal fluctuates quite markedly too.

Certainly in December when my O2 contract expires, I'll be moving to Voda or Orange for the new iPhone unless O2 bring out a femtocell too.

goomba · 02-10-2009, 15:49

I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data.

You just end up paying twice for the data.

I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something?

tellytart1 · 02-10-2009, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by goomba

I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data.

You just end up paying twice for the data.

I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something?

Because it makes the network coverage very good in your own house. (I live in London, and I get NO 3G signal on O2 in my flat, and poor 2G signal)

Daveoc64 · 02-10-2009, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by goomba

I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data.

You just end up paying twice for the data.

I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something?

Increasingly people are just using their mobile phone rather than having a landline and actively using it.

With the pretty reasonable "unlimited" (or virtually unlimited) deals people now get, it makes much more sense to stick to a mobile.

The only problem is when you don't get good coverage at your home.

A femtocell solves that problem, letting you use your mobile allowance at home.

Of course, if your tariff isn't very good you'll be paying a lot, but the concept is really aimed at getting people onto unlimited tariffs.

Appleseed · 02-10-2009, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daveoc64

Increasingly people are just using their mobile phone rather than having a landline and actively using it.

With the pretty reasonable "unlimited" (or virtually unlimited) deals people now get, it makes much more sense to stick to a mobile.

The only problem is when you don't get good coverage at your home.

A femtocell solves that problem, letting you use your mobile allowance at home.

Of course, if your tariff isn't very good you'll be paying a lot, but the concept is really aimed at getting people onto unlimited tariffs.

Doesn't a femtocell hook up to your router to communicate? The router that has to be connected to either a cable modem or a BT line?

Daveoc64 · 03-10-2009, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appleseed

Doesn't a femtocell hook up to your router to communicate? The router that has to be connected to either a cable modem or a BT line?

Indeed, but you can get cable broadband without a phone line or a very basic BT line + ADSL.

I did say "actively using it". A lot of people have a landline just so that they can get ADSL. You don't have to pay anything for calls if you don't want/need to.

The mobile coverage here is excellent, and I get plenty of minutes included in my tariff, so I'll always use my mobile to make calls. If I lived somewhere with poor coverage and I was able to get a Femtocell I definitely would.

Daveoc64 · 03-10-2009, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Appleseed

You can bet your last quid that Vodafone have already found a foolproof way of stopping things like using it abroad from happening!

AT&T's femtocell (US Mobile Network) uses a GPS device to check that the femtocell is being used within the US.

That stops people using it in other countries and getting free/discounted calls and also violating laws about licenses.

kyussmondo · 03-10-2009, 06:59

It would be preferable to me if when I come home, when my iPhone changes to Wi-Fi then my iPhone would switch to using VoIP instead where people could just call and text me on the same number but over the internet. We tried BT Fusion, which was good in theory but they used bluetooth which meant you had to stay within 10 metres of the HomeHub which was impractical. I don't see that happening though as the networks wouldn't like it unless they charged you at a normal rate.

A femotcell seems like a good but expensive alternative when it is cheaper to use existing equipment. Depending on where I move to in a few months then I may look into getting a femotcell in the future.

I have one question though. I currently live in a rural area with no 3G. Would connecting a femotcell to my broadband line give me 3G even though the local cells don't offer it?

goomba · 03-10-2009, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyussmondo

Would connecting a femotcell to my broadband line give me 3G even though the local cells don't offer it?

Yes.

Although that's the bit that really confuses me - why would anybody pay extra to have 3G coverage at their house if they had broadband?

tellytart1 · 03-10-2009, 15:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by goomba

Yes.

Although that's the bit that really confuses me - why would anybody pay extra to have 3G coverage at their house if they had broadband?

Because they can then make phone calls on their mobile with good quality, coming out of the inclusive minutes on their account, rather than paying for the call via BT.

goomba · 04-10-2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by tellytart1

Because they can then make phone calls on their mobile with good quality, coming out of the inclusive minutes on their account, rather than paying for the call via BT.

Hmm...true, but it was the 3G bit that confused me. I guess I was equating that more with data. Not sure I would be willing to spend that much just to stay on one particular network either.

Daveoc64 · 04-10-2009, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by goomba

Hmm...true, but it was the 3G bit that confused me. I guess I was equating that more with data. Not sure I would be willing to spend that much just to stay on one particular network either.

It's 3G because it's a better technology. A lot of people now have devices that make use of data 24/7 and in a lot of cases it's simpler to just keep them running over the Mobile Network.

23-06-2009, 13:55	#1
darkone338 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 718	Vodafone to offer femotcells to customers from July 1st http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06...ccess_gateway/ This is great news for people in fringe reception areas who have broadband tho 160 quid is a bit steep! Edit: More info as its released here

23-06-2009, 14:17	#2
BoBaDoB Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Stoke On Trent/Staffordshire Posts: 1,556	i can see them giving them for free for retention deals tbh to keep customers who complain about bag signal at home

23-06-2009, 18:08	#3
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	If you were to buy one independently it would cost you a lot more than £160.

25-06-2009, 13:49	#4
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	Position it correctly and the neighbours get a free signal boost too - free of charge.

25-06-2009, 13:52	#5
flagpole Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 43,524	Quote: Originally Posted by Appleseed Position it correctly and the neighbours get a free signal boost too - free of charge. that's not completely true. you have to designate which numbers can use it. if i were vod that is not how i would do it TBH

25-06-2009, 14:24	#6
mpk81 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: West Posts: 922	I wonder what their policy will be about using it outside the UK. It bring up some interesting possibilities. You could use it in your Spanish holiday home. If you could configure it to accept any Vodafone UK mobile then ex-pat bars around Europe may start getting them.

25-06-2009, 14:50	#7
clonmult Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,291	Quote: Originally Posted by mpk81 I wonder what their policy will be about using it outside the UK. It bring up some interesting possibilities. You could use it in your Spanish holiday home. If you could configure it to accept any Vodafone UK mobile then ex-pat bars around Europe may start getting them. Thats an interesting thought. In theory your IP address shows where you're "calling" from, but that isn't always accurate - some websites count my office as being in the US (I work at a large british comms company). Although ex-pat bars couldn't use the voda femtocells as they're locked down to specific phone numbers.

25-06-2009, 15:17	#8
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	You can bet your last quid that Vodafone have already found a foolproof way of stopping things like using it abroad from happening! Thing is, what's the problem with it? They only charge more because they have a to use other networks to connect you abroad, but with this they wouldn't be. It could turn into quite a moneyspinner for them. The only downside is that you can only use the phone at home and we already have a system for that. Landlines!

25-06-2009, 15:28	#9
flagpole Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 43,524	they wouldn't be licensed to work in other countries though would they. you be broadcasting a 3G signal in a country without a licence and possibly interfering with local carriers.

02-10-2009, 14:25	#10
Andy258 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newark, Notts Posts: 656	They really are great value for money. I got mine on a Vodafone staff deal at £100 and now have perfect 3G signals on my 2 Vodafone mobiles. Before this I was struggling to get any kind of signal.

02-10-2009, 14:43	#11
tellytart1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,638	I wonder how long it'll be before O2 launch this too - my 3G coverage at home is almost non-existent (SE London), and the 2G signal fluctuates quite markedly too. Certainly in December when my O2 contract expires, I'll be moving to Voda or Orange for the new iPhone unless O2 bring out a femtocell too.

02-10-2009, 15:49	#12
goomba Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5,444	I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data. You just end up paying twice for the data. I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something?

02-10-2009, 16:32	#13
tellytart1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,638	Quote: Originally Posted by goomba I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data. You just end up paying twice for the data. I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something? Because it makes the network coverage very good in your own house. (I live in London, and I get NO 3G signal on O2 in my flat, and poor 2G signal)

02-10-2009, 21:25	#14
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by goomba I really don't see why anybody would want one of these, especially for 3G data. You just end up paying twice for the data. I suppose if you were stuck using one specific carrier and really needed their network at home. Have I missed something? Increasingly people are just using their mobile phone rather than having a landline and actively using it. With the pretty reasonable "unlimited" (or virtually unlimited) deals people now get, it makes much more sense to stick to a mobile. The only problem is when you don't get good coverage at your home. A femtocell solves that problem, letting you use your mobile allowance at home. Of course, if your tariff isn't very good you'll be paying a lot, but the concept is really aimed at getting people onto unlimited tariffs.

02-10-2009, 22:01	#15
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	Quote: Originally Posted by Daveoc64 **Increasingly people are just using their mobile phone rather than having a landline and actively using it.** With the pretty reasonable "unlimited" (or virtually unlimited) deals people now get, it makes much more sense to stick to a mobile. The only problem is when you don't get good coverage at your home. A femtocell solves that problem, letting you use your mobile allowance at home. Of course, if your tariff isn't very good you'll be paying a lot, but the concept is really aimed at getting people onto unlimited tariffs. Doesn't a femtocell hook up to your router to communicate? The router that has to be connected to either a cable modem or a BT line?

03-10-2009, 01:44	#16
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by Appleseed Doesn't a femtocell hook up to your router to communicate? The router that has to be connected to either a cable modem or a BT line? Indeed, but you can get cable broadband without a phone line or a very basic BT line + ADSL. I did say "actively using it". A lot of people have a landline just so that they can get ADSL. You don't have to pay anything for calls if you don't want/need to. The mobile coverage here is excellent, and I get plenty of minutes included in my tariff, so I'll always use my mobile to make calls. If I lived somewhere with poor coverage and I was able to get a Femtocell I definitely would.

03-10-2009, 01:50	#17
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by Appleseed You can bet your last quid that Vodafone have already found a foolproof way of stopping things like using it abroad from happening! AT&T's femtocell (US Mobile Network) uses a GPS device to check that the femtocell is being used within the US. That stops people using it in other countries and getting free/discounted calls and also violating laws about licenses.

03-10-2009, 06:59	#18
kyussmondo Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Posts: 1,731	It would be preferable to me if when I come home, when my iPhone changes to Wi-Fi then my iPhone would switch to using VoIP instead where people could just call and text me on the same number but over the internet. We tried BT Fusion, which was good in theory but they used bluetooth which meant you had to stay within 10 metres of the HomeHub which was impractical. I don't see that happening though as the networks wouldn't like it unless they charged you at a normal rate. A femotcell seems like a good but expensive alternative when it is cheaper to use existing equipment. Depending on where I move to in a few months then I may look into getting a femotcell in the future. I have one question though. I currently live in a rural area with no 3G. Would connecting a femotcell to my broadband line give me 3G even though the local cells don't offer it?

03-10-2009, 12:06	#19
goomba Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5,444	Quote: Originally Posted by kyussmondo Would connecting a femotcell to my broadband line give me 3G even though the local cells don't offer it? Yes. Although that's the bit that really confuses me - why would anybody pay extra to have 3G coverage at their house if they had broadband?

03-10-2009, 15:37	#20
tellytart1 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London Posts: 3,638	Quote: Originally Posted by goomba Yes. Although that's the bit that really confuses me - why would anybody pay extra to have 3G coverage at their house if they had broadband? Because they can then make phone calls on their mobile with good quality, coming out of the inclusive minutes on their account, rather than paying for the call via BT.

04-10-2009, 12:37	#21
goomba Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5,444	Quote: Originally Posted by tellytart1 Because they can then make phone calls on their mobile with good quality, coming out of the inclusive minutes on their account, rather than paying for the call via BT. Hmm...true, but it was the 3G bit that confused me. I guess I was equating that more with data. Not sure I would be willing to spend that much just to stay on one particular network either.

DS Forums

Vodafone to offer femotcells to customers from July 1st

04-10-2009, 14:33	#22
Daveoc64 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bristol (BBC1 West) Posts: 15,143	Quote: Originally Posted by goomba Hmm...true, but it was the 3G bit that confused me. I guess I was equating that more with data. Not sure I would be willing to spend that much just to stay on one particular network either. It's 3G because it's a better technology. A lot of people now have devices that make use of data 24/7 and in a lot of cases it's simpler to just keep them running over the Mobile Network.